Where were these parks in Worcester? Do you remember playing in them?

LAST week’s article on Tybridge Street prompted a few memories of the area; some readers recalled fish & chips in the Tybridge Street snack bar, while others remembered bands playing upstairs in the Bush Inn.

This article also prompted a number of memories of Cripplegate Park and the grand house that overlooked the park before the St John’s flats were built. 

One local resident, Kathy Harding got in touch and shared her story of growing up in Cripplegate House.

Kathy recalled: “I used to live in the old Georgian house, which adjoined Cripplegate Park and where Worcester Library was run on the ground floor.

“There was, I remember a field with donkeys directly opposite the building which was divided into three flats.”

Cripplegate House

Several people expressed their dismay when not only the house, but the paddling pool that was located in front of it, made way for redevelopment in the late 1960s.

Kathy described it as a very low circular paddling pool in front of the building, and also remembered the chickens that were kept by her neighbours.

She went on to explain how that she knew both Cripplegate and Gheluvelt parks really well as her father, Captain Andrew Pettigrew was head of Worcester Parks till he retired in 1977. 

“I subsequently moved, with my family, to live in a house in Gheluvelt Park in Barbourne in the 1950s, opposite the old waterworks.

“I remember the little steam railway train that used to operate there and also going out on the lake in paddle boats for 3d a ride.

“Occasionally a band would play on the bandstand and Uncle Stan would hold Sunday services where the current playground is situated.”

Captain Pettigrew went on to produce the designs for St Andrew’s Gardens which was a heap of rubble after the war.

“He based the design on the Italian Gardens in St Fagans Castle now the National Folk Museum of Wales.  The plans he put forward, which were accepted by Worcester Corporation included an underground car park – but this was deemed too costly to approve! Both materials and money were in short supply in the early 1950s.”

Kathy also recalled the day that her father came home and sadly recounted to her mother that the lich gate by the cathedral was being demolished. 

Included here are a few images of parks around the city during the 20th century, inspired by these memories.  We’d love to hear people’s memories of their local parks!

Worcester Life Stories is a collaborative project bringing local people together through shared stories of the City of Worcester. It is co-led by Dr Natasha Lord, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust and Sheena Payne-Lunn, Worcester City Council and funded thanks to National Lottery players. For further information or to share your stories, visit worcesterlifestories.org.uk, our Facebook page or Twitter @worlifestories.

You can also email worcesterlifestories@gmail.com or call 01905 721133.

Or you can join the conversation on Facebook on our We grew up in Worcester page.

The answers to last week's pictures of Worcester in the 60s were: construction under way at the Bull Ring c 1968; the back of Cripplegate House, viewed from the Bull Ring, c1967; Building conditions prior to demolition in the mid 1960s. We believe this may be St Clement’s Square; Tybridge Street and in the distance, the back of Russell Terrace; the back of Cripplegate House, viewed from the Bull Ring, early 1960s; Tybridge Street Snack Bar, 1960s; and the rear yard of one of the demolished properties in Bush Walk.